Ratings of managerial skill requirements: comparison of age- and job-related factors

This article examines how individual characteristics (age, experience) and organizational characteristics (department, level) influence the skill requirements rated as being important for managerial jobs. One hundred ninety-seven managerial employees completed a survey composed of 20 skill dimensions pertinent to supervisory positions in the mining industry. Organizational level and departmental affiliation were correlated with job skill importance ratings. Ratings of skill importance were also correlated with the age of the person being rated, years of experience, and the age of the rater. As predicted, correlations with ratee age varied across different skill dimensions. This study has implications for fair employment practices to the degree that raters base evaluations of a job on the age of incumbents vs. job relevant characteristics.